The father of a woman killed by a truck driver on the Hume Highway in New South Wales has hugged his daughter's killer as he was sentenced to time in prison.

Kaine Barnett has been handed a three-year jail term after he was last month found guilty of dangerous driving over the deaths of 23-year-old university student Sarah Frazer and 40-year-old tow truck driver Geoffrey Clarke.

Ms Frazer was on her way to start university in Wagga Wagga when her car broke down on the highway at Berrima in February 2012.

Mr Clarke was loading her car onto his tow truck when Barnett, who was distracted by looking in his rear-vision mirror and reaching for his water bottle, hit them, killing both instantly.

During the sentencing hearing, Justice Stephen Hanley acknowledged Barnett was distracted, but he had failed in his obligation to check the road ahead was clear.